| Stress levels around the world are on the rise. In | | | | that form at the SVYASA Institute. |
| order to deal with this, relaxation and stress | | | | The institute is named after Swami Vivekananda who |
| reduction therapies have sprung up from | | | | was a monk and scholar of Indian philosophy. In 1893, |
| everywhere. Yoga instruction is no longer just a | | | | Swami Vivekananda was invited to speak at the |
| fringe population idea. It is now a mainstream fitness | | | | Parliament of Religions, held in Chicago, on the topic |
| methodology. Yoga certifications are now available | | | | of Hinduism. His speech became famous for explaining |
| from many places in North America. As a result of | | | | the unity of religions as many paths to God, and that |
| this, yoga instructors are now available everywhere. | | | | Hinduism in its original sense encompassed that view. |
| Each gym now offers yoga classes from certified | | | | Swami Vivekananda wanted the Western world to |
| yoga instructors. It's time we understood what this is | | | | understand Indian spirituality in the correct view, as a |
| all about and where we are going with respect to the | | | | synthesis of the four types of yoga, which ultimately |
| fitness industry. | | | | leads to the goal of spiritual evolution. SVYASA is |
| The word yoga is a Sanskrit word meaning joining or | | | | dedicated to the education and research of yoga in |
| union. What are we joining? The human being | | | | this context. The school retains strict attention to the |
| consists of several entities commonly referred to as | | | | original sources of yoga from Sanskrit scripture. |
| body-mind-spirit. An integrated human being is the | | | | The teaching styles of the school and environmental |
| goal of yoga. We are joining the different pieces of | | | | factors do not cater to the Western lifestyle. Those |
| the human being to make an integrated, holistic being | | | | who come from abroad must acclimatize themselves |
| that is attuned to one goal. The body, mind and spirit | | | | to the pure Indian way. Meals are served on the floor |
| are all integrated with a common attitude and | | | | and must be eaten using the hands. Vegetarian Indian |
| viewpoint. This is different from the state of being | | | | food is served. No cutlery is provided. Footwear must |
| where the body wants to satisfy one need and the | | | | be left outside of all classes. Be prepared to literally |
| mind another and the spirit yet a third. This is the | | | | be on your feet for long amounts of time. While the |
| state during which mental storms occur and the body | | | | majority of the students are comfortably able to sit |
| responds in turn with a manifestation of that mental | | | | on the floor during the long lecture sessions, chairs |
| vortex. | | | | are available for those who will not be able to survive |
| Yoga seeks to align the human being using its own | | | | in that position. The philosophy of discipline is |
| tool of breathing. When we breathe rhythmically, our | | | | everywhere, starting from the boot camp like nature |
| body is more in tune with itself. We function better | | | | of the roll call before each session. Students who |
| as an integrated being in a holistic way. Yoga was | | | | miss a portion of the attendance will not receive their |
| invented in India, about 5000 years ago, precisely to | | | | certificate. Attendance is considered a very important |
| achieve the goal of integration. When our being is | | | | factor of the study. In addition, a strict code of |
| aligned our interaction with the world will be more | | | | uniforms is enforced. Women must wear the Indian |
| efficient. We perform better at work and in our | | | | dress of salwaar kameez, which is a tunic, and pant |
| home life. Rela-tionships become easier. This is what | | | | set made of 100% cotton. This dress could be |
| yoga achieves. | | | | modified to be more forgiving for yoga poses. Men |
| In India, yoga is taught and researched as a science | | | | must wear loose fitting track pants and t-shirt. This is |
| at a place in Bangalore called the Swami Vivekananda | | | | more conducive to rigorous physical activity. It must |
| Yoga Anusamdhana Samsthan (SVYASA). This | | | | be noted that everywhere the students of the yoga |
| means Yoga Research Institute. One can obtain | | | | instructors course can be identified by their uniform. |
| intensive instruction in yoga and therapy techniques | | | | As attendance is strict, so is the keeping of students |
| using yoga. Recently, I completed a month long | | | | on the grounds. While exceptions can be made for |
| certificate course for yoga instructors at this institute. | | | | justifiable reasons, students cannot usually leave the |
| The yoga that is taught here is not just about the | | | | campus for any reason after the start of the course. |
| physical poses. The idea of yoga from the original | | | | The campus is 32 km north of the major city of |
| meaning is to really integrate the whole human being. | | | | Bangalore. Fortunately, Bangalore boasts many |
| This involves all of our activities in life. We must be | | | | amenities including an international airport. The city of |
| aligned and integrated during all of our tasks during | | | | Bangalore itself is very multicultural. One can find the |
| the day. All of our activies can be divided into several | | | | modern world mixed with the original flavour of India |
| broad categories. All actions like going to work, eating | | | | everywhere. The SVYASA institute has a city office |
| breakfast are classified as Karma yoga. All | | | | in Bangalore from where a bus is arranged to take |
| philosophical discussions are classified under Jnana | | | | travellers to its campus outside the city in a place |
| yoga. Any devotional activities such as the singing of | | | | called Geddallahalli. The name of the campus is |
| hymns or prayers are considered part of Bhakti yoga. | | | | Prashanti Kutiram, which means abode of peace. |
| The physical poses of Western ideas of yoga are a | | | | While the name is very amenable to yoga studies, I |
| part of Raja yoga, which includes other methods for | | | | found that one needs to practice yoga in sincerity to |
| gaining mastery over the physical body. This is the | | | | find the true peace, which is only inside the human |
| original concept of yoga from India and is taught in | | | | being. |